{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} {{more citations needed|date=April 2015}} {{Infobox German location | name = Kampen, Sylt | image_photo = 20150322 xl 3483-Sylt Kampen Blick von der Uwe Düne bis zum Daenischen Festland.JPG | image_caption = View over Kampen from Uwedüne | image_flag = Flagge Kampen (Sylt).svg | image_coa = DEU Kampen (Sylt) COA.svg | coordinates = {{coord|54|57|N|8|20|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | image_plan = Kampen in NF.PNG | state = Schleswig-Holstein | district = Nordfriesland | Amt = [[Landschaft Sylt]] | elevation = 1 | area = 8.43 | postal_code = 25998–25999 | area_code = 0 46 51 | licence = NF | Gemeindeschlüssel = 01 0 54 061 | website = [https://www.kampen.de/ www.kampen.de] | mayor = Stefanie Böhm | party = }}
'''Kampen''' ({{IPA|de|ˈkampn̩|-|De-Kampen.ogg}}; officially '''Kampen (Sylt)'''; [[Sylt North Frisian|Söl'ring Frisian]]: Kaamp; {{langx|da|Kampen}}) is a municipality and seaside resort on the island [[Sylt]], in the district of [[Nordfriesland]], in [[Schleswig-Holstein]], [[Germany]]. It is located north of the island's main town, [[Westerland, Germany|Westerland]]. The municipality is part of the ''[[Amt (country subdivision)|Amt]]'' ''[[Landschaft Sylt]]''. The local economy is dominated by tourism.
== Etymology == The name ''Kaamp'' means "a marked out field".<ref name="Lex">{{cite book |last1=Kunz |first1=Harry |last2=Steensen |first2=Thomas |title=Taschenlexikon Sylt (German) |publisher=Wachholtz |year=2014 |isbn=978-3-529-05525-6 }}</ref>{{rp|184}}
== History == {{moresources|section|date=August 2022}} [[File:Wd b130.JPG|thumb|left|Kampen in 1894 as seen from atop the [[Kampen Lighthouse]]]] The first mention of Kampen occurs in a tax registry from 1543. The village is considered to have been founded quite late, possibly as a result of people moving there from an earlier settlement destroyed by a storm.<ref name="Landschaft">{{cite web |url=http://www.amtlandschaftsylt.de/kampen.html |title=Die Gemeinde Kampen (Sylt) (German) |publisher=Amt Landschaft Sylt |access-date=8 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401041836/http://www.amtlandschaftsylt.de/kampen.html |archive-date=1 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1767, the local ''Landvogt'' and some inhabitants bought land to the north of the village and established the ''Kampener Vogelkoje'', a [[decoy]]. This was profitable over the next four decades and through 1921 yielded a total of 695,957 killed ducks.<ref name="Landschaft" />
In 1803, Kampen consisted of 23 houses and 93 inhabitants (40 men and 53 women, of which 23 were seafarers). In 1853, King [[Frederick VII of Denmark]] ordered the construction of the [[Kampen Lighthouse]]. In 1860, the number of houses had fallen to 22 and there were still 93 inhabitants, however, just three of them were seafarers. In 1864, Kampen became [[Prussia]]n.<ref name="Landschaft" />
For centuries, until around 1900, Kampen was a rural village shaped by [[agriculture]]. Shipping and fishing as well as other industries and crafts played a relatively smaller role in the village's development. Together with [[Wenningstedt-Braderup|Wenningstedt]], the village of Kampen constituted part of the so-called "Northern Villages" (''Norddörfer'') of Sylt. The church and school were shared due to the low number of citizens in the respective villages – so they could only be supported through a common effort.
Kampen, a quiet hamlet situated in a [[Heath (habitat)|heath]], was discovered by tourists quite late. Until the beginning of the 20th century the place was merely regarded an insider's tip among travellers. Only in the 1920s did Kampen's reputation as a [[seaside resort]] begin to develop. An ordinance from 1912, which is still effective today, requires that all houses in the village be built in the traditional style, i.e. brick buildings with [[thatched roof]]s.
In July 1903, Kampen was linked by the ''Sylter Nordbahn'' to Westerland. In 1908, this was extended north to List. In 1908, the ''Nordseebad Kampen auf Sylt GmbH'' (founded in 1904) built a large two-storied octagonal wooden pavilion on the northern heath, around 400 metres from the ''Kurhaus'' (it was demolished in 1922). Even earlier, in 1906, a development plan had called for covering all of the northwestern heath with new construction.<ref name="Landschaft" /><ref name="kampen1">{{cite web |url=http://www.kampen.de/Natur-Tradition/Geschichte/Kampener-Geschichte |title=Kampener Geschichte (German) |publisher=Kampen municipality |access-date=8 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414185759/http://www.kampen.de/Natur-Tradition/Geschichte/Kampener-Geschichte |archive-date=14 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
After [[World War I]], the ''Verein Naturschutz Insel Sylt e. V.'' was founded. ''Haus Kliffende'' to the north of the village became a cultural and artists' meeting place in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1921, locals established the ''Verkehrsverein Kampen/Sylt e. V.'' to boost tourism.<ref name="Landschaft" />
[[File:Kampen Haus Kliffende.jpg|thumb|''Haus Kliffende''.]] Beginning in 1921, writer [[Thomas Mann]] was a guest of [[Siegfried Jacobsohn]] and later often stayed at ''Haus Kliffende'', north of the village. Many other intellectuals, musicians, writers and other artists flocked to the area. These included [[Max Frisch]], [[Emil Nolde]], [[Carl Zuckmayer]], [[Heinrich Vogeler]] and [[Lovis Corinth]].<ref name="Merian">{{cite book |last=Andersen |first=Christa Maria |title=Merian Sylt (German) |publisher=Travel House Media GmbH |year=2006 |isbn=978-3-8342-0021-1 }}</ref>{{rp|45}} In 1923, there were 1,213 visitors to Kampen.<ref name="kampen1" /> [[Ferdinand Avenarius]] is considered as the first popularizer of Sylt. Today, a park is named after him.<ref name="kampen2">{{cite web |url=http://www.kampen.de/Natur-Tradition/Avenarius-Park |title=Avenarius-Park (German) |publisher=Kampen municipality |access-date=8 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414184306/http://www.kampen.de/Natur-Tradition/Avenarius-Park |archive-date=14 April 2015 }}</ref>
Kampen became a separate municipality on 21 March 1927, when the ''Norddörfer'' association was dissolved by the Prussian authorities, creating the ''Landgemeinde Kampen''.<ref name="Landschaft" />
In 1938, there were 25,0000 visitors and more than 500 ''Ehrenkurgäste''.<ref name="Landschaft" />
Prior to – and during – [[World War II]] camps to accommodate troops were established in Kampen by the [[Wehrmacht]]. A major camp was located near today's public camping site in the southwestern part of the village. It had been built due to the expansion of the air field in [[Braderup]]. There was, however, no direct combat action, nor did Kampen suffer any remarkable damage from the allied bombings.
East of the village there was an [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] site with many [[bunker]]s and shelters. In the immediate post-war years, Kampen had 370 inhabitants and they were joined by 1,927 refugees from Germany's former eastern territories housed in the former military installations. In the 1950s, the ''Café Kupferkanne'' was established inside the anti-aircraft facility. The ''Lager Skagerak'' became a youth hostel.<ref name="kampen1" />
After World War II the village became a venue of the "rich and famous" – the tycoons of the ''[[Wirtschaftswunder]]''. Also many celebrities of cinema and television thought Kampen to be fashionable. [[Gunter Sachs]] was one of those the public associated with the village.<ref name="kampen1" />
In the 1960s there was a considerable boost in the [[Freikörperkultur|naturist movement]]. Especially the nude beach at ''Buhne 16'' in Kampen gained popularity by frequent media reports.
TV productions such as ''[[Tatort]]: {{Interlanguage link multi|Strandgut (Tatort)|de|3=Tatort: Strandgut|lt=Strandgut}}'' (1972) were set in Kampen. In 1971, Kampen had been assigned the title ''Nordseebad''.<ref name="kampen1" />
The boom slowed down in the 1980s. Today Kampen remains an upscale tourist resort.
=== Village development === From the 1920s on, the summer residences and [[villa]]s of mostly wealthy guests were constructed on the ''Nordheide'' around the old village core. Thus the area of Kampen multiplied within a few years. Despite early plannings from the 1920s, the western heath of Kampen was not covered with buildings though and today is a [[nature reserve]].
== Geography == [[File:Sylt Rotes Kliff.jpg|thumb|Kampen beach with ''Rotes Kliff''.]] Kampen lies on the ''[[Geest]]'' at a height of around 27 metres above [[Normalhöhennull|NHN]].<ref name="Lex" />{{rp|184}}
The so-called ''Rotes Kliff'' (red cliff) west of the village rises up to 30 metres from the North Sea and is highly endangered by erosion and [[storm surge]]s. The ''Uwe Düne'' ([[dune]]) reaches a height of 52.5 m above sea level, making it the island's highest point.<ref name="Merian" />{{rp|47}} It is named after {{Interlanguage link multi|Uwe Jens Lornsen|de}} (1793–1838), a freedom fighter for a united [[Schleswig-Holstein Question|Schleswig-Holstein]] who hailed from Keitum.
East of Kampen the [[Wadden Sea National Parks|Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park]] extends, in summer the municipality offers guided [[mudflat hiking]] trips there.
== Economy == Like all municipalities on Sylt, Kampen is highly specialised on the tourism business, so that an economical monostructure can be found there. The annual number of visitors is currently around 35,000.<ref name="kampen1" />
== Attractions == The ''Kampener Vogelkoje'' is located roughly three kilometres north of Kampen. Nowadays this is a [[nature reserve]] of 10 hectares for numerous species of water fowl.<ref name="Merian" />{{rp|47}}
There are numerous studios and artists' galleries in Kampen.
On the western heath several [[neolithicum|neolithic]] [[dolmen]]s are located. As they are not marked, they are relatively untouched by tourism. The ancient [[circular rampart]] of Kampen also remains largely unnoticed.{{cn|date=August 2022}}
== Government == The current ''Bürgermeisterin'' (mayor) is Stefanie Böhm.<ref name="Landschaft2">{{cite web |url=http://www.amtlandschaftsylt.de/kampen/ansprechpartner.html |title=Ansprechpartner Gemeinde Kampen (Sylt) (German) |publisher=Amt Landschaft Sylt |access-date=8 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401041841/http://www.amtlandschaftsylt.de/kampen/ansprechpartner.html |archive-date=1 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Arms === [[Blazon]]: Azure a [[Eryngium maritimum|sea holly]] argent.<ref>[http://efi2.schleswig-holstein.de/wr/wr.asp?Aktion=Datenblatt&Aufrufer=Treffer&Treffer=2&iTreffer=2&ID=390 Schleswig-Holstein Municipal Roll of Arms] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120065712/http://efi2.schleswig-holstein.de/wr/wr.asp?Aktion=Datenblatt&Aufrufer=Treffer&Treffer=2&iTreffer=2&ID=390 |date=20 January 2018 }}{{in lang|de}}</ref>
The municipal flag depicts the sea holly in a blue [[Flag terminology|canton]] on an otherwise [[Flag terminology|fessed]] flag of blue and white.
=== Town twinning === Since 2002 Kampen has been [[Town twinning|twinned]] with [[Lech am Arlberg]] in [[Austria]]. A retired cabin from a [[gondola lift]] was given to Kampen as a gift by the well-known alpine ski resort, which is now displayed on Kampen's main beach. In return Lech received a thatched bus stop shelter.
== Religion == {{Unsourced|section|date=August 2022}} Kampen does not have a church of its own. For a long time the mostly Protestant citizens had to attend church services at [[St. Severin, Keitum|St. Severinus]]' church in [[Keitum]], seven kilometres away.
In 1914, the "Frisian Chapel" was built in the neighbouring village of Wenningstedt, whose ''Norddörfer'' Parish also includes Kampen. During the summer months outdoors church services are held at various locations.
== Infrastructure == === Transport === The municipality is crossed by the state road L24 which runs north–south all along the island. In addition to individual traffic, bus route No. 1 of the ''Sylter Verkehrsgesellschaft'' provides public transport.{{cn|date=August 2022}}
The [[Kampen Lighthouse]] situated on the higher [[geest]]land core south of the village. It is the oldest lighthouse on the island,<ref name="Merian" />{{rp|47}} standing 40 metres tall with a black and white marking. Another, smaller lighthouse, the [[Rotes Kliff Lighthouse]], is located north of Kampen on the red cliff. It served as a supplement to the main light from 1913 to 1975.{{cn|date=August 2022}}
== Education == Together with Wenningstedt, Kampen operates the ''Norddörfer Schule'', an elementary school located south of the village proper. There is also a kindergarten in the village.
== Literature == [[File:Ingo Kühl - HAUS AM WATT VIII, Öl auf Leinwand 150 x 200 cm, WV 10-15.jpg|thumb|[[Ingo Kühl]] – ''Haus am Watt VIII'' 2015, oil on canvas 150 × 200 cm]] * {{citation|editor-surname1= Wolfgang Mielke|periodical=Perinique|title=Sylt|issue=8|publisher=Perinique|publication-place=Hamburg|issn=1869-9952|date=2009|language=de}} 48-seitiges Themenheft mit Schwerpunkt Kampen (1952–1959) * Rolf Spreckelsen: ''Nordseebad Kampen auf Sylt. Die Geschichte des Bades.'' Hans Christians Verlag, Hamburg 1978, {{ISBN|3-7672-0568-8}}. * Rolf Spreckelsen, Manfred Wedemeyer among others: ''450 Jahre Kampen.'' Edited by Gemeinde Nordseebad Kampen, Sylt 1994 * Rolf Spreckelsen: ''Kampen – Sylt: der Flirt fürs ganze Leben ; die Geschichte eines Dorfes.'' Christians Verlag, Hamburg 1996, {{ISBN| 3-7672-1253-6}}. * [[Ingo Kühl]]: ''Das Haus am Watt – Kampener Skizzen'', Verlag Kettler, Dortmund 2015, {{ISBN|978-3-86206-473-1}}. * Ingo Kühl: ''Das Haus am Watt'' (Picture book large format 42 × 30 cm), Edition Schöne Bücher, Verlag Kettler, Dortmund 2015, {{ISBN|978-3-86206-484-7}}.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Kampen (Sylt)}} * {{Official website}} {{in lang|de}} * [http://www.amtlandschaftsylt.de/ Amt Landschaft Sylt]
{{Cities and towns in Nordfriesland (district)}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Seaside resorts in Germany]] [[Category:Sylt]] [[Category:Populated coastal places in Germany (North Sea)]] [[Category:Nordfriesland]]